Chapter Eight

It was late, and Lila was bone tired. She was beginning to wish she'd taken some marketing classes instead of focusing solely on the food. Landing clients wasn't easy, but it sure was exhausting.

She'd spent the week working on getting the word out about her business. She'd designed a simple logo, branding herself the Gourmet on the Go, and having business cards printed up with her information. Lila had commissioned a small sign for her house, and had even considered having a sign made for her car, but figured it wouldn't improve her image to have Gourmet to Go plastered all over her rusty old Ford Escort.

She'd paid a local freelancer to design a simple website for her in order to increase her 'presence.' Then she'd started scouring the papers for any chance to network, to get her name out without paying for expensive advertising. She'd put up some flyers in a few places around town, hoping to catch attention, but so far her phone hadn't rung once.

Damn that Alex Drake! She'd had it all planned, had hoped that he'd refer her to his friends, and that she'd get a word-of-mouth campaign rolling with little effort. What a fool she'd been. Instead he'd gotten her with little effort, and she was still reeling from the effects of his touch.

It hurt, the realization that he'd used her, that he'd never been serious about her. If she was honest with herself, she knew that deep down she'd expected it throughout his seduction. Why would a good-looking, rich, powerful man like that want her? Duh, he didn't. But a man didn't turn down what was thrown in his face, so he'd taken what she offered. Perhaps it would have been impolite not to.

Lila groaned, scrubbing tired hands across her face. She needed a shower, not to keep rehashing the same argument with herself. But the thought that he was just being polite, just sleeping with the help because maybe her ego needed a boost, that thought hurt the worst. So she drove it out, letting it melt away under the hot spray of the shower.

It wasn't until she was drying off that she heard the doorbell. Shit! Lila threw on her robe and raced down the stairs, her bare feet leaving wet footprints on the hardwood floors. The doorbell had stopped its buzzing. She lunged for the door and swung it open, hoping she hadn't missed whomever was calling.

There he stood, Alexander Drake, still tall, dark, and dangerous in a lightweight gray trench and dark slacks.

Her mouth dropped open at the sight of him, but she recovered quickly. Pulling the robe closed tight across her chest, she eyed him. "What are you doing here?"

"May I come in?"

Lila shook her head. She knew where that led. "What do you want?"

"You never sent a bill."

She nodded, and a grimace crossed his face. "Can't we talk about this inside, cupcake? Or do you prefer that the whole neighborhood see you in your fuzzy pink bathrobe?"

He's got a point. Lila blushed and stood aside, allowing Drake to enter. She closed the door behind him, then crossed her arms and leaned against it. "What do you want?" she asked again.

Alex sighed. "Look, you didn't send a bill so I sent you a check, but my bank says it hasn't been cashed yet."

"I ripped it up."

"What?" His shocked expression almost made her laugh. He must have seen her lips twitching because his expression lightened. "You're joking?"

"No, I'm not. I ripped up your check. It was too much."

"No, it wasn't." Alex took a step closer. "You did a fantastic job, so I rewarded you."

"Which job are you talking about? The catering, or the blow jobs?

His mouth tightened. "I don't pay for sex."

Lila couldn't help the jibe that slid out next. "Looking at your fiancée, I wouldn't think you would have to, but..."

"I'm sorry," he said then, stepping closer, making Lila slide away from the door and around him to put space between them. "Lila, I didn't want to hurt you. Something came over me, and I know you felt it too. But it was wrong, and I apologize."

"Maybe you should be apologizing to your future wife."

His eyes shot sparks, his mouth a thin line. "You're right. But I should apologize to you as well. And I am."

"Fine. Now, if that's all..." She motioned toward the door.

"No, that's not all. I want that bill for the party."

"Your deposit covers it."

"Like hell." He pulled out his wallet, grabbing out an assortment of bills.

Lila put her hands up. "I'm serious. No payment needed."

Alex grumbled, shoving his money back into his wallet and the wallet back into his pocket. "If you won't accept payment for the first job you did for me, perhaps you'll agree to do the second?"

"The second?" Alex was offering her another job? After the fiasco of the first?

"Yes. I want you to cater my wedding."

Lila rolled her eyes. The nerve of him! "Get out."

"I'm serious," he protested. "Hear me out. Your food is excellent, and I need a wedding caterer. I know your business is just starting out and you could use the exposure."

"I don't need it that bad," she retorted. "You must be insane if you think--"

"Yes, I'm insane. I admit it. So agree to cater the wedding, and I'll pay you an insane amount."

"You know that money isn't important to me."

Alex nodded, his gray eyes holding hers captive. "I know. But your business is. If you agree, I'll promote the hell out of your catering service. I'll print the name of the business on my programs. I'll let you put up a sign at the reception. I'll sing your praises to all of my associates until you've got to find a bigger kitchen."

His words were rapid-fire, his tone persuasive. But the thought of spending more time in close quarters with Drake was sobering.

"Mr. Drake, I appreciate your offer--"

"Goddammit, I told you call me Alex." His eyes were fierce, and his hands came up to grip her shoulders tightly.

"Mr. Drake," she said again, "I respectfully decline."

"Don't," he said, and she thought for a moment that there was more than petty disappointment in his tone. "Don't say no. I know you need this."

"And you're willing to pressure me into it, is that it?" Lila couldn't help the stiffness that came into her face. She picked up his hands and removed them from her body.

"Yes," he said, staring down at her after shoving his hands in his pockets. "I'll pay you one hundred thousand dollars."

"That's insane!" Lila couldn't believe him. Why was he doing this, coming to her when he could have any caterer in the state, especially at that price?

"It's not insane. Agree to cater my wedding and you won't regret it, I swear to you."

Lila shook her head. It made no sense. But then she caught the hint of hurt in his eyes, and paused. She did need the job, the money and the exposure. But was it worth the price she would pay?

"Fine," she said at last. "I'll cater your wedding, you big jerk."

"Thank you," he said, pulling out his hand from his pocket and taking hers, shaking it up and down vigorously. "I look forward to discussing the arrangements with you."

"Just get out," she said wearily.

Alex frowned, then nodded, turning back to the door and opening it. Before he departed, he paused. "I'll have my assistant deposit $20,000 in your account. As a deposit on the wedding. It seems I can't trust you with a check."

"Get out!"

With a smile, he went out the door and she slammed it behind him.